Hot water bottle safety to avoid injury as the temperatures start to drop.

This marking shows that the hot water bottle was manufactured in the second week of July, 2021.

Many people don’t understand the potential risks associated with the use of hot water bottles, particularly regarding how long you should keep them. They are only recommended for use up to two years due to the potential degradation of their natural rubber composition. Often they are only for occasional use so there can be an assumption that they can be kept and used safely for years.

This can potentially be very dangerous. Incorrect use can cause severe scalding and potentially life changing injuries.

There are some key things to look out for before you use your hot water bottle.

Check that the hot water bottle carries the marking of the British Standard 1970:2012.
Check the date daisy to identify how old the hot water bottle is. This can be identified by the flower shape, often on the neck of the bottle. The number represents the year, the petals (or segments) represent the month and the dots represent the week within that month that the product was manufactured. (See example)
Check for any signs of wear and tear or cracking in the rubber or around the seal.

It is imperative that the instructions of use are followed carefully. As the product is made of rubber, it is prone to degradation over time and incorrect use and/or storage of the hot water bottle can speed up this process.

Some key important points to remember are:

Do not fill from the domestic hot water system as, depending on the hot water system used, dissolved copper from hot water tanks can accelerate the degradation of the rubber.
Do not use boiling water. Allow the water to cool slightly before adding it to the hot water bottle.
Expel excess air from the hot water bottle whilst filling.
Do not overfill, as this can result in bursting.
When storing, remove all water and do not place anything on top of the hot water bottle